Elemental Beta 2 Preview

from JoeUser Forums

The good news is that Elemental Beta 2 is only expected to last 2 weeks.  The bad news is that Beta 2 will be multiplayer only, hence the short duration.

The object of beta 2 will be to begin the testing of the server infrastructure.  Elemental is client/server for its multiplayer. In fact, it’s dedicated server for beta 2 – players will be playing on our own servers distributed across the world.  The reason for this is that it eliminates the whole connectivity issue – if you can get on the web, you should be able to play. At least, in theory.

Beta 3 and beyond of course will have multiplayer as well where we will be adding more features, fixing bugs, expanding capacity.

One multiplayer mode is called Arena.  In this mode, the maps are incredibly tiny and set up for only 2 players. In this mode, the game plays a bit like Archon except imagine city building.  The goal for arena mode is for games to last between 10 to 30 minutes.

Beta 2 won’t have the custom games in them. That’ll come later during the beta.  With custom games, players can set up their own unique servers for LAN play or simply to create their own modded game experience.  For instance, a custom game I’d play would be 2 humans on the same side vs. 20 AI players.

After a couple of weeks with beta 2, we will turn on the full graphics engine and start focusing on making the game FUN. :)

99,239 views 52 replies
Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Does it mean we won't be able to test the game at all in solo ?

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Awsome... Just awsome!! how cool would it be to play 2 humans vs. 20 A.I. Oh yea baby!! ;)

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Does this mean that Beta 2 isn't actually a build, but simply a testing of the servers? (theoretically with 1z4 build)

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tasunke, reply 5
Does this mean that Beta 2 isn't actually a build, but simply a testing of the servers? (theoretically with 1z4 build)

Sort of my question too.

Although I assume 1z4 will still roll out before Beta 2, although it might also be the case that - if 1z4 works out to expectations - that Beta 2 will also more or less be the 1z4 build, but with MP flagged on / SP flagged off.

MP is going to be the main way I personally play the game all going well, so I have a rather vested interest in seeing it work well. That said though, getting in during a MP only phase is going to make things pretty interesting. Although I suppose with the mechanics as they are currently, win or lose means absolutely nothing, the only thing that may be a problem (for others) is the longer than necessary turn times figuring it out.

Of course, I also assume that there will be other new folk to play with to start off with, so we can muddle around it together. :)

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

I can't imagine why you are testing the servers when so few elements are in the game but I'm not a developer.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Get in the pit and start proving yourselves worthy!

 

I also agree Coop is so damn fun... 20 ai, naa I like full 30 ai vs 2 humans! Now those are good odds!

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Chipwich, reply 7
I can't imagine why you are testing the servers when so few elements are in the game but I'm not a developer.

Two reasons:

1. Because connectivity problems were such a nightmare with Demigod. Get it in early and you get months of testing before release. (It also means features work with MP as you add them, so you won't get any nasty surprises like if you added MP in beta 5.)

2. The AI isn't done yet, and likely won't be for a while. Human opponents provide something to play against when testing beta 3 (aka make the game more fun beta) while the AI is still a work in progress.

 

 

My question about this - it says beta 2 is the dedicated Stardock servers. At what point will we be able to test LAN and player hosted servers?

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tridus, reply 9

My question about this - it says beta 2 is the dedicated Stardock servers. At what point will we be able to test LAN and player hosted servers?

Even 'player hosted' games will be hosted by the Stardock dedicated servers. You'll still be able to run mods and everything and have them as custom as you please, but they'll be hosted by Stardock anyhow.

As for LAN games... Good question. Is there even going to be LAN support?

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top



The object of beta 2 will be to begin the testing of the server infrastructure.  Elemental is client/server for its multiplayer. In fact, it’s dedicated server for beta 2 – players will be playing on our own servers distributed across the world. 

Nice, so I suppose we gonna have EU "master servers" as well. Not that ping matters in a TBS, so I could easily play on a US server as well.


One multiplayer mode is called Arena.  In this mode, the maps are incredibly tiny and set up for only 2 players. In this mode, the game plays a bit like Archon except imagine city building.  The goal for arena mode is for games to last between 10 to 30 minutes.
 

Sounds good! :)

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Soo, does this mean you're treating us to another playthrough between you and a different dev? :grin:

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Even 'player hosted' games will be hosted by the Stardock dedicated servers.

No.  The community will be able to set up their own servers and mod them as well. Players will not have to use our servers exclusively.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

I can't imagine why you are testing the servers when so few elements are in the game but I'm not a developer.

Which elements (as opposed to content) do you think aren't in the game?

The piping is in for most of the main game features. They just don't have content hooked to them. Tactical battles are about the only element of the game that hasn't been made public yet.

Obviously without content, the features are meaningless. But from a server point of view, the features are there to test. The robots can't tell the difference between a fun and unfun game. :)

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 14

I can't imagine why you are testing the servers when so few elements are in the game but I'm not a developer.
Which elements (as opposed to content) do you think aren't in the game?

The piping is in for most of the main game features. They just don't have content hooked to them. Tactical battles are about the only element of the game that hasn't been made public yet.

Obviously without content, the features are meaningless. But from a server point of view, the features are there to test. The robots can't tell the difference between a fun and unfun game.

 

So that's it, isn't it Brad? We're just. . .unfeeling machines to you? (Insert long rant from any horrible romantic comedy)

 

Good to hear things continue apace.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

So I take it their will be no living minor factions like a tribe of trolls or somesuch?

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Hopefully the NBM Party (New Beta Map) has successfully swayed the dictatorship to replace the current map for Beta 2.

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Two weeks? Wow that might be the shortest beta phase in Stardock history

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Yep, shorter than most votes or polls. Definitely shorter than a recount of Ballots :D

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 13

Even 'player hosted' games will be hosted by the Stardock dedicated servers.
No.  The community will be able to set up their own servers and mod them as well. Players will not have to use our servers exclusively.

Ahhh. That makes a lot more sense actually, I was wondering how that was going to work, but must've misinterpreted what was actually said in the interviews that mention it.

So to clarify then, even 'player hosted' standard games (i.e., no mods used) would typically be hosted via Stardock and use Client/Server with Stardock end being the server rather than P2P, but when it came to running modded games, much like how most FPS' do it, others will be able to setup the dedicated server software and we can run the games modded through them instead?

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Tasunke, reply 16
So I take it their will be no living minor factions like a tribe of trolls or somesuch?

Ah, I sometimes forget what's in your build versus what's in ours. We've had minor factions in our builds for some time. They're crucial to getting rumors on what champions are running around, getting rare items, etc.  

I'll see about making them available for beta 1Z4. Or at least some of it.

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 13

Even 'player hosted' games will be hosted by the Stardock dedicated servers.


No.  The community will be able to set up their own servers and mod them as well. Players will not have to use our servers exclusively.

Do we need an internet connection to play multiplayer if we're using a local LAN? A lot of my friends are still on dialup.

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting TCores, reply 22

Quoting Frogboy, reply 13
Even 'player hosted' games will be hosted by the Stardock dedicated servers.


No.  The community will be able to set up their own servers and mod them as well. Players will not have to use our servers exclusively.


Do we need an internet connection to play multiplayer if we're using a local LAN? A lot of my friends are still on dialup.

You will need an Internet connection to play on LAN at least for the server hosting it.  It's turn based so you should be able to play it dial-up (though good thing to test out in beta 2).

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

So safe to say that June 1 is being targetted for beta 3? I realize that if z4 fails that is not going to happen....

Reply #25 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 14

I can't imagine why you are testing the servers when so few elements are in the game but I'm not a developer.

Which elements (as opposed to content) do you think aren't in the game?

The piping is in for most of the main game features. They just don't have content hooked to them. Tactical battles are about the only element of the game that hasn't been made public yet.

Obviously without content, the features are meaningless. But from a server point of view, the features are there to test. The robots can't tell the difference between a fun and unfun game.

 

The adventure and some parts of the magic system seem like something that would be affected by there being more than one player.